Character Analysis
The Guide

The guide who leads Gawain from Hautdesert to the Green Chapel provides one last opportunity for Gawain to give in to temptation. The temptation offered is at least partially parallel to the one that Gawain has already succumbed to, an appeal to Gawain's fear for his life. However, the guide's temptation is more directly related to Gawain's honor and reputation, and in this case, Gawain acts honorably, resolving to accept his fate despite his fears. The guide's knowledge of the Green Knight and the Green Chapel is peculiar, because no one besides Bertilak seems to have heard of the Green Chapel. The guide is either in on Bertilak's conspiracy against Gawain or is, perhaps, even another form of the shape-shifting Bertilak himself.